Sunday, October 15, 2006

"Elementary, my dear Watson" - this phrase has almost become Sherlock Holmes' signature dialogue, but Doyle fans who have delved deep into each of his books declare, with more than 100% confidence, that this phrase is NEVER uttered by Sherlock Holmes in any of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's books. The dialogue that comes anywhere close to this is...

My periappa (uncle) recently bought me a book called "Waterness", a translation of ten of Na Muthuswamy's short stories by Lakshmi Holmstrom. He signed the book, saying, "Dear Janani, here is a peep into a Tanjore District village very near to a place dear to our hearts. Enjoy reading what we experienced in our younger days." Very true. I really am enjoying reading this book, although not all the memories recreated in the book are pleasant (the story titled 'Death' for example).

My uncles and dad have spent many a happy vacation in Tanjore at their aunt's place, and till date they joyfully recollect the fields, the bullock and horse carts, the house, the pond, the river, the well, and so on. I've also grown up hearing stories of Tanjore from my grandfather, who was born and brought up in a village called Maavur, in the Tanjore district. Therefore, this is indeed a special book as far as I am concerned.

Na Muthuswamy is one who can lucidly conjure up images of people and places in our minds, whether through his short stories or through his plays. Through his theatre group called 'koothu-p-pattarai' he has been successful in popularising the traditional street play art of Tamilnadu, in the villages AND in the city! I have been lucky enough to see one or two of his wonderful albeit simple street plays (the themes of the plays I saw were simple because they were for an audience of school students).

Lakshmi Holmstrom, not surprisingly, has done an amazing translation. Here is the blurb of the book for those of you who are interested...

"Playwright, director, founder member of the theatre group Koothu-p-pattarai, short story writer and essayist, Na Muthuswamy fulfils each role he undertakes. Waterness brings you ten of his most unforgettable and beautifully crafted stories, in excellent translations in Lakshmi Holmstrom. Stories which recreate in fine detail the richness of life in the village of Punjai in the heart of Thanjavur district, seen from the perspective of modern urban life and its alienating pressures. Stories of a lifestyle that no longer exists, told realistically without romanticizing or idealizing, using fantasy and surrealism. Stories built around memories, about memory, the mythologizing of memory, and paralleling memory and dream."

About Me

I am freelance writer, editor and writing coach working out of my home-office in Chennai. While I am interested in a variety of subjects ranging from science to philosophy, my favourites are technology, food and culture.
I believe in David Halberstam's test... when I get up every morning, I ask myself if I am still excited about the work I do every day. And the answer is unfailingly affirmative!
More than anything else, I am a full-time, hands-on mom! I love my family, and give them first priority come what may. I always believe that life's little joys and Kodak moments are too valuable to be overlooked. Spending a few minutes recollecting my son's childish talk is enough to motivate me to face another busy day full of zest!